CLARKSVILLE - A Russellville attorney arrested here earlier this week is accused of giving four clients fraudulent divorce decrees signed not by the judges assigned to the cases, but by the lawyer himself.

Officials on Thursday booked Ben T. Donathan, 32, into the Johnson County Detention Center after Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons charged him with four counts of second-degree forgery. Municipal Judge Len Bradley, during a hearing that same day, released Donathan on his own recognizance pending a July 1 appearance in circuit court.

In a probable-cause statement filed in the case, Gibbons wrote he became aware of two of the alleged forgeries in early May, after a pair of Pope County divorce decrees with the forged signature of Circuit Judge Dennis Sutterfield and a forged file mark surfaced.

When authorities questioned Donathan about the cases, both of which he handled, on May 9, he allegedly admitted to investigators he forged the signatures, saying he was "trying to help his client(s) out." Donathan also admitted to signing Circuit Judge David McCormick's name to a Yell County divorce decree, according to the statement.

A fourth document believed to have been forged with the signature of Pope County Circuit Judge Gordon "Mack" McCain surfaced May 27. Donathan admitted June 3 to faking that signature as well, the statement indicated.

Gibbons said in an interview Friday the charges were filed in Johnson County after Donathan told investigators he committed the acts at his home there. The prosecutor said three of the documents in question showed fake file marks of the sort typically used to certify paperwork has been recorded by the circuit clerk, although it did not appear any forged documents were filed.

Donathan's attorney, James Dunham of Russellville, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case late Friday afternoon, but an attorney at Sanford Law Firm, where Donathan was employed until recently, issued a statement.

"There is nothing we value more than the trust of our clients and our reputation for integrity," Sanford wrote. "We realize that both of these things may be damaged by this investigation and its outcome, and therefore our first priority will be to make sure that any of Mr. Donathan's clients or former clients who were affected by any alleged malfeasance are set right, and that they are satisfied that their cases have been handled correctly."

Gibbons said those involved in the four cases Donathan is charged in connection with have all been contacted; however, clients of Donathan concerned about their court cases should check the file marks on any documents provided for what Gibbons characterized as signs of obvious manipulation. Those with further concerns should contact the circuit clerk in the county where cases were adjudicated, or contact Arkansas State Police investigator Joe Carter by calling 968-2558, Gibbons said.

Forgery, a Class C felony, is punishable in Arkansas by 3-10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

As an attorney, Donathan may also be subject to disciplinary action by the state Office of the Committee on Professional Conduct, although a spokesperson there could not be reached for comment late Friday.